BROMSGROVE HOCKEY club has been boosted with its plans to promote walking hockey globally after giving a demonstration of the relatively new game at the Women’s Hockey World Cup.
The news comes as the chair of England Hockey, Royston Hoggarth, offered to help develop the sport further after watching the club play an exhibition match at the Fan Central Arena, London, last month.
Sixteen players participated in the game, played in the shadows of the Velodrome, after the club had been invited along following an initial approach from head coach Alan Gormley.
Mr Gormley said: “To showcase a new sport to a global audience that can help people to remain active throughout their lives, regardless of age or ability, was a wonderful experience.
“We are immensely proud to have been invited to the pinnacle of hockey and to represent our town and club.”
Walking hockey, which began life in Bromsgrove two years ago, now has 40 countries either playing the sport or wanting to know more.
The national development director of field hockey USA, Sally Goggin, flew over from Chicago especially to watch the exhibition match and asked for as much information as possible so that she can now develop the game across the United States.
Over 40 people from the club travelled to London for the day and got the opportunity to play hockey along the ‘Walk of Stars’ as well as meet Jamie Dwyer, who was voted men’s world hockey player for 5 seasons.
The club also got to watch the world cup games between New Zealand and Australia, and Argentina and South Africa.
Alan added: “It was an amazing experience for all of us with some saying that it was a trip of a lifetime.”
